Países de la ampliación

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El CESE participa activamente en el proceso de ampliación de la UE y ha desarrollado un enfoque dual (regional y bilateral) para sus relaciones con las organizaciones de la sociedad civil en los países candidatos a la adhesión.

En lo que respecta al enfoque regional, el Comité de Seguimiento para los Balcanes Occidentales (un organismo interno permanente del CESE) es el principal instrumento para coordinar las actividades del CESE en la región. El Foro de la Sociedad Civil de los Balcanes Occidentales, que se celebra cada dos años, forma parte de la labor del Comité de Seguimiento.

El CESE también trabaja bilateralmente con los países de los Balcanes Occidentales y con Turquía. Sobre la base de acuerdos de asociación entre estos países y la UE, con el fin de involucrar a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil en los procesos de preadhesión y adhesión, el CESE ha creado tres organismos conjuntos con representantes de la sociedad civil (con Turquía, Montenegro y Serbia). Cada organismo se compone de un número equivalente de miembros del CESE y del país asociado en cuestión, y se reúne dos veces al año.

El CESE mantiene contactos periódicos y organiza actividades conjuntas con las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de los países candidatos a la adhesión con los que aún no se ha creado ningún organismo conjunto de representantes de la sociedad civil.

La labor de los organismos conjuntos viene acompañada por la elaboración de dictámenes del CESE sobre los procesos de preadhesión y adhesión de cada país, así como sobre otras cuestiones de interés regional.

  • Reference number
    21/2024

    The 18th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which took place in Podgorica today, sent a clear message to the EU institutions, that Montenegro is firmly committed to becoming the 28th member by 2028. The JCC members encouraged their organisations, the national authorities and the EU institutions to spare no efforts to accomplish the rule of law interim benchmarks. Obtaining the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) for the rule of law by June, will be a turning point in the EU accession process, enabling provisional closing of other chapters.

  • Reference number
    9/2024

    Today, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) officially launched its initiative to welcome civil society representatives from EU candidate countries. A total of 131 'Enlargement Candidate Members' (ECM) were selected to make up  the pool of civil society experts who will be participating in the Committee's work, thus making the EESC the first institution to open its doors to EU candidate countries. The initiative, a political priority of EESC President Oliver Röpke, sets new standards for involving candidate countries in EU activities, facilitating their progressive and tangible integration into the EU.

  • Reference number
    51/2023

    In the run-up to the EU-Western Balkans Summit, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) met with Montenegrin civil society on 7 December 2023 to take stock of the country's accession progress, and in particular its public administration reform. The participants raised concerns about the weakening capacity of the country's public administration to respond to the growing demands of the EU agenda. However, with the new government, there is a window of opportunity for the necessary reforms to move forward in the accession negotiations.

  • Reference number
    40

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held the 9th edition of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum on 19-20 October 2023, just a few weeks ahead of the European Commission's Enlargement Package and the New Growth Plan. The Forum signalled a renewed momentum for the region to join the EU, in view of the current geopolitical situation and a clear commitment of EU leaders to the enlargement policy. Representatives of Civil Society Organisations stressed the need for greater support and safeguarding of civic space to facilitate the essential socio-economic reforms required for EU integration.

  • Reference number
    30/2023

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed representatives from civil society organisations from candidate countries at its July plenary session, announcing the initiative to appoint Honorary Enlargement Members and invite them to participate in the daily advisory work of the Committee

  • The  EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its 14th meeting on 29 November 2022 in Belgrade, to discuss the state of play in the accession process and reform policies in the country. The participants from Serbia and the EU Institutions, as well as from civil society organisations pointed out concerns and challenges that still need further improvement. The joint declaration of the EU-Serbia JCC was adopted unanimously.

  • Panel I - In the shadow of war: Europe's new geopolitical context and the consequences for the future of the EU, Zagreb

  • Reference number
    44/2022

    The high-level civil society conference on youth policy in the Western Balkans, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), highlighted the key role of young people for the future of the region and called for their active involvement in policy-making. 

  • Cohesion policy is key to overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and to reducing disparities in Europe. Its most serious challenge for the foreseeable future, however, is the war in Ukraine, the EESC cautions in a recent opinion. Rapid action is needed to help refugees and ensure the country's European integration.

  • Reference number
    26/2022

    On 24 May in Sarajevo, the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee held its yearly external meeting - for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic - to meet with civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and discuss their role and concerns regarding the current situation. The conclusions will be conveyed to the country's political authorities and to the EU institutions.